Our Community
PTFA
Blackheath Prep’s Parents, Teachers and Friends Association (PTFA) plays a vital role in building positive links between home, the school and our local community. PTFA volunteers work hard all year round to enrich the social aspects of our school through a varied programme of events. They also raise funds for school activities and our partner charities.
A varied programme of events take place throughout the year, ranging from the popular Christmas and summer fairs, discos, ice-cream sales and playground tea parties to the evening socials for parents and the annual quiz night. The PTFA’S fundraising efforts have raised money for many different projects and in recent years have funded two adventure playgrounds at school as well as musical instruments for our Strings, Wind and Brass programmes. Most recently, the PTFA funded the development of our Garden of Imagination used by pupils for Forest School activities and the purchase of playground games sets.
Charity in our Community
Blackheath Prep is committed to supporting charitable endeavours in our local community and abroad. We actively encourage our pupils to think about their community, and the world at large. We help them to develop an appreciation of the advantages they have and an understanding of and empathy for those who may not be as fortunate. We also encourage support from our parents.
At Blackheath Prep, we place great value on building ongoing partnerships with smaller charities, and those in our local area. Throughout the year, we host a wide range of pupil-led fundraising and charitable initiatives in school, including Christmas jumper days, sponsored events, and table sales. The PTFA also raises money for a variety of charities and makes regular uniform donations to two schools in Zimbabwe.
For 2025/26, our chosen charities, as voted for by our pupils, are Emmie’s Books and Guide Dogs. Across the year, our pupils and families will participate in a wide range of fundraising activities to support these charities.
Local Charities we have supported
We regularly support the work of Lewisham-based MammaKind with donations of children’s clothes, toiletries and baby food.
The 999 Club in Deptford work with people experiencing homelessness and are one of our long-standing charity partners. We support their work with food donations from our harvest festival, and fundraising to buy new sleeping bags and other necessary items.
One of our chosen charities voted for by pupils in 2024/25, we raised money and collected donations to support the work of this local charity.
Age Exchange, Blackheath
During our bicentenary year in 2023, pupils raised money, and donated gift boxes and secondhand books, to support Age Exchange’s fundraising and their work with people living with dementia.
Creekside Discovery Centre, Greenwich
In 2023, pupils raised over £1,200 for this wildlife conservation centre, based on the river Thames in Deptford.
National charities we have supported
Flying Seagull Project A chosen charity in 2024/25, we raised money for the Seagulls who bring joy to children living in war zones, migrant camps and hospitals, but abroad and in the UK.
Poppy Appeal
International charities we have supported
We regularly support the work of Mary’s Meals who provide meals for children living in poverty around the world. Other fundraising includes working with The Raheli Trust to support two pupils, Agnes and Grace, through their schooling in Tanzania.